Filter cigarette construction



April 1, 1958 LAN A 2,828,750

FILTER CIGARETTE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 12, '1956 INVENTOR; P177271? 61 72:?

'xrrazmw United States Patent 2,828,750 FILTER CIGARETTE CONSTRUCTION Peter Lanza, Newark, N. J. Application March 12, 1956, Serial No. 570,753 3 Claims. (Cl. 131-10) This invention relates to cigarette construction and, more particularly, to cigarettes of the type that contain filters at one end.

While many popular brands of cigarettes now employ filters to filter the smoke, many casual smokers often mistake the filter end for the opposite end, thereby erronecusly igniting the filter end of the cigarette instead of the tobacco end thereof. Of course, this ruins the cigarette and is quite annoying to the smoker. This is a problem, especiallywhere the smoker attempts to find the filter end of the cigarette in the dark, since both ends of the conventional filter cigarette are quite similar to the touch. An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide an identification means for filter type cigarettes that will enable the smoker to readily locate the filter end of the cigarette.

Another object of this invention is to provide a filter cigarette that includes filter identification means that depends upon the touch of the smoker.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tongue engageable identifying means that is associated with the filter end of a filter type cigarette.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a filter type cigarette having means associated with the ilter end thereof which will enable the smoker to identify the filter end by sight or touch.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filter cigarette made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the cigarette shown in Figure l, in identifying position with the hand and fingers of a smoker;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, showing the cigarette in identifying association with the tongue of a smoker; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the cigarette in proper position within the mouth of the smoker, with the lips engaging the filter end thereof and with the flame of a match being applied to the opposite end for igniting the cigarette.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing, a cigarette of the type described is shown to include a main portion that contains the smoking tobacco, and a filter portion 12 that is secured to one end of the main portion for filtering the smoke that is drawn into the mouth of the smoker. Since the filter is generally constructed of a material that is substantially dilferent than the tobacco, it is quite undesirable, if not harmful, to ignite this end. Therefore, this end is always the end that is intended to be received by the mouth of the smoker.

A V-shaped groove 14 is provided along the diameter of the outer extremity 16 of the filter portion 12. This groove includes a pair of converging sides 18, 20 which meet at an apex 22 which is inwardly of the outer extremity 16 of the filter. The sides 18, 20 are inclined l at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees relative to each other.

Since the outer extremity 24 tion of the cigarette presents end of the cigarette may be located by feeling both ends of the cigarette with a finger 26, as shown in Figure 2, so as to identify the grooved end.

The filter end may also be located with the assistance of the smokers tongue 28, as shown in Figure 3, before the cigarette is ignited.

Of course, each end may also be identified on sight since the difference in appearance of both ends is quite apparent. In any event, once the filter end has been located, it is placed in engagement with the lips 30 of the smoker, as shown in Figure 4, whereupon an igniting means such as a match 32 may be applied to the extremity 24 of the main tobacco portion of the cigarette, thereby igniting it.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the specific form shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such showing is for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A cigarette comprising, in combination, a main tobacco portion having an inner extremity and an outer extremity, a filter portion, said filter portion comprising a cylindrical element having a cylindrical side wall with one end integrally secured to said inner end of said main portion, and identification means associated with the opposite end of said element for distinguishing the filter portion from said main tobacco portion, said means comprising a V-shaped groove having flat sides defining an included angle of approximately forty-five degrees therebetween.

2. A cigarette as set forth in claim 1, wherein said V-shaped groove is disposed along the diameter of said outer end of said filter portion.

3. A cigarette as set forth in claim 2, wherein said V-shaped groove extends across the entire length of the diameter of said outer end of said filter and through diametrically opposite sides of said cylindrical side wall.

of the main tobacco pora plain surface, the filter References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 968,284 Strause Aug. 23, 1910 2,045,601 Howarth June 30, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 275,240 Germany June 12, 1914 385,726 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1933 

